X-Message-Number: 30397
Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 07:19:38 -0800 (PST)
From: david pizer <>
Subject: VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

In reply to Mark Mugler who, like about 50 OTHER
people so far, has expressed an interest in
discussions on how to build some checks and balances
in Alcor's election system and still protect against a
hostile takeover.

Mark's plan seems complicated, as may be some of the
ideas I have also suggested so far.  But there may be
a compromise here that does everything for everybody.

What about leaving the electing system as it is now,
and adding a provision that any Directors running for
re-election each year must pass a VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
by the membership which process starts 90 days before
the election.  

This would be where a sitting Director has to announce
their desire to be a candidate for re-election 90 days
before the Board votes.  The membership then can
discuss each Directors past performance for 60 days in
public forums.  Compliments for those who the members
like their past performance, suggestions for or about
others.

Then 30 days before the Board has their vote, the
members first take a vote of confidence, they must
approve by 51% of those members voting, their approval
that this Director can run again.  If they don't
approve, that Director can not run for 3 years.

The Board is still free to vote for someone else
without having to get the membership's approval.

Under this plan, the Directors still do the voting,
but the members have a sort of veto power to keep
those Directors that the membership feels have not
done a good job from staying on.

This would bring some accountability into the system
while retaining the features in existence now that
some people like.

It also will cause the Directors to have to review
their own performance each year and face the
membership they have served and ask for their support
to keep their seat.  It will cause them to think about
what they have done, and to share their plan for the
future with the members.  It will cause them to
explain why they have taken certain actions.  In other
words, it will cause the Directors to communicate more
and better with the members, to keep us in the loop
about what is goin on.  To make us more a part of the
Alcor team.

This plan will allow the members to have some say in
who their leaders are and are not.  It should allow
member morale to start to increase again.

I think the plan is worth further discussion.  The big
problem is how do we members get the Board to even
discuss these concerns and ideas with us?

David

> From: <>
> Subject: RE: some suggestions on voting methods

> With all due respect to Dave Pizer, anything that
> takes more than three sentences to explain is too
> complicated.
 
> What is needed is checks and balances that protect
> both against a non-accountable leadership and
> against a hostile takeover of the membership.
 
> Again, I suggest that terms on the Board be limited,
> the Board nominate its successors, and confirmation
> of nominees by 3/4 of voting members be required. 
> This provides the dual protections sought.  
 
> Nomination would be mandatory, as would a special
> election if a nominee were not confirmed.  The only
> problem is how to continue governance in the event
> of a protracted standoff in which the Board
> otherwise would dwindle away as the terms expire. 
> Maybe the Board member would serve until replaced,
> and periodic special elections involving different
> nominees would be required.  Or, if the second
> nominee fails in the first special election, the
> members could nominate people by majority vote,
> subject to confirmation by the Board - switch of
> roles.
 
> This is not to negate some of Dave's ideas, such as
> limiting voting membership to those who have been
> dues paying members for a period of years.
> Mark Mugler

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>
> 
> End of CryoNet Digest
> *********************
> 
> 




      
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